Wikipedia

2001 Major League Soccer season

The 2001 Major League Soccer season was the sixth season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 89th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 23rd with a national first-division league.

2001 Major League Soccer season
Season2001
MLS CupSan Jose Earthquakes (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldMiami Fusion (1st shield)
2002 CONCACAF Champions' CupSan Jose Earthquakes
Matches played158
Goals scored519 (3.28 per match)
Top goalscorerAlex Pineda Chacon
Miami Fusion F.C.
Goals: 19
Highest attendanceD.C. United
Season: 258,213
Game Avg.: 21,518
Lowest attendanceSan Jose Earthquakes
Season: 125,250
Game Avg.: 9,635
Total attendance2,363,859
Average attendance14,961
← 2000
2002 →
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Locations of teams for the 2001 Major League Soccer season
Western Division   Central Division   Eastern Division

The season was shortened due to the September 11 attacks, with the final weeks' regular season matches being canceled. Due to the different number of games played, playoff ordering was determined by points per game, instead of total points.[1]

The regular season began on April 7, and concluded prematurely on September 9. The 2001 MLS Cup Playoffs began on September 20, and concluded with MLS Cup 2001 on October 21. The Miami Fusion won their first Supporters' Shield and the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in the final to win their first MLS Cup.

Overview

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Season format

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The season began on April 7 and concluded with MLS Cup on October 21. The 12 teams were split into three divisions. Each team played 32 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Each team played every other team in their division four times, for a total of 12 games. The remaining schedule consisted of three games against four select opponents in one of the other divisions, and two games against the remaining four teams.

The eight teams with the most points per game qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The quarterfinals and semifinals were played as a best-of-three series, and the winners advanced to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken by penalty shootout if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round.

The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield. The winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, qualified for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup.

Stadiums and locations

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Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity
Chicago Fire Soldier Field 66,944
Colorado Rapids Mile High Stadium 76,273
Columbus Crew Columbus Crew Stadium 22,555
D.C. United RFK Stadium 46,000
Dallas Burn Cotton Bowl 92,100
Kansas City Wizards Arrowhead Stadium 81,425
Los Angeles Galaxy Rose Bowl 92,542
Miami Fusion Lockhart Stadium 20,450
New England Revolution Foxboro Stadium 60,292
MetroStars Giants Stadium 80,200
San Jose Earthquakes Spartan Stadium 30,456
Tampa Bay Mutiny Raymond James Stadium 69,218

Personnel and sponsorships

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Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Chicago Fire   Bob Bradley —
Colorado Rapids   Tim Hankinson
Columbus Crew   Tom Fitzgerald —
D.C. United   Thomas Rongen MasterCard
Dallas Burn   Mike Jeffries
Kansas City Wizards   Bob Gansler —
Los Angeles Galaxy   Sigi Schmid —
MetroStars   Octavio Zambrano   Tab Ramos
Miami Fusion   Ray Hudson —
New England Revolution   Fernando Clavijo —
San Jose Earthquakes   Frank Yallop   Jeff Agoos Yahoo! Sports
Tampa Bay Mutiny   Alfonso Mondelo

Coaching changes

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Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment
Columbus Crew   Tom Fitzgerald Fired May 17, 2001   Greg Andrulis May 17, 2001
Tampa Bay Mutiny   Alfonso Mondelo Resigned July 5, 2001   Perry Van der Beck Jul 5, 2001

Standings

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Eastern Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Miami Fusion 26 16 5 5 57 36 +21 53 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 MetroStars 26 13 10 3 38 35 +3 42
3 New England Revolution 27 7 14 6 35 52 −17 27
4 D.C. United 26 8 16 2 42 50 −8 26
Source: MLS

Central Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chicago Fire 27 16 6 5 50 30 +20 53 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Columbus Crew 26 13 7 6 49 36 +13 45
3 Dallas Burn 26 10 11 5 48 47 +1 35
4 Tampa Bay Mutiny 27 4 21 2 32 68 −36 14
Source: MLS

Western Division

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 26 14 7 5 52 36 +16 47 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 San Jose Earthquakes 26 13 7 6 47 29 +18 45
3 Kansas City Wizards 27 11 13 3 33 53 −20 36
4 Colorado Rapids 26 5 13 8 36 47 −11 23
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts PPG Qualification
1 Miami Fusion (S) 26 16 5 5 57 36 +21 53 2.04 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
2 Chicago Fire 27 16 6 5 50 30 +20 53 1.96
3 Los Angeles Galaxy 26 14 7 5 52 36 +16 47 1.81
4 Columbus Crew 26 13 7 6 49 36 +13 45 1.73
5 San Jose Earthquakes (C) 26 13 7 6 47 29 +18 45 1.73 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
6 MetroStars 26 13 10 3 38 35 +3 42 1.62
7 Dallas Burn 26 10 11 5 48 47 +1 35 1.35
8 Kansas City Wizards 27 11 13 3 33 53 −20 36 1.33
9 New England Revolution 27 7 14 6 35 52 −17 27 1.00
10 D.C. United 26 8 16 2 42 50 −8 26 1.00
11 Colorado Rapids 26 5 13 8 36 47 −11 23 0.88
12 Tampa Bay Mutiny 27 4 21 2 32 68 −36 14 0.52
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points per game; 2) total goal differential per match played; 3) total goals scored per match played; 4) away record; 5) away goal differential; 6) total goals scored in away matches; 7) home record; 8) home goal differential; 9) total goals scored in home matches; 10) fewest disciplinary points per match played; 6) away goal differential per away match played; 11) coin toss or drawing of lots.
(C) Champion; (S) Supporters' Shield

MLS Cup Playoffs

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Bracket

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Quarterfinals Semifinals MLS Cup
             
2 Chicago Fire (7 Points) 2 1 2
7 Dallas Burn (1 Points) 0 1 0
2 Chicago Fire (1 Points) 1 0 1
3 Los Angeles Galaxy (ASDET)* (7 Points) 1 1* 2*
3 Los Angeles Galaxy (SDET)* (4 Points) 1 1 3*
6 MetroStars (4 Points) 1 4 2
3 Los Angeles Galaxy 1
5 San Jose Earthquakes (ASDET)* 2
1 Miami Fusion (6 Points) 2 0 2
8 Kansas City Wizards (3 Points) 0 3 1
1 Miami Fusion (3 Points) 1 0 0
5 San Jose Earthquakes (SDET)* (6 Points) 0 4 1*
4 Columbus Crew (0 Points) 1 0 x
5 San Jose Earthquakes (6 Points) 3 3 x
  • Points system
    Win = 3 Pts.
    Loss = 0 Pts.
    Draw = 1 Pt.
  • ASDET*=Added Sudden Death Extra Time (Game tie breaker)
    SDET**=Sudden Death Extra Time (Series tie breaker)
    Teams will advance at 5 points.

Quarterfinals

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Dallas Burn0–2Chicago Fire
Bocanegra   40'
Whitfield   90'+
Chicago Fire1–1Dallas Burn
J. Beasley   84' Deering   27'
Cotton Bowl
Dallas, Texas
Attendance:: 17,149
Dallas Burn0–2Chicago Fire
Kovalenko   17'
Armas   55'

Chicago Fire advance 7–1 on points.

Kansas City Wizards0–2Miami Fusion
Serna   28'
Pineda Chacón   53'
Miami Fusion0–3Kansas City Wizards
Lowe   24'
McKeon   31' (pen.)
Gomez   45'+
Kansas City Wizards1–2Miami Fusion
Lowe   13' Preki   14'
Henderson   71'

Miami Fusion advance 6–3 on points.

MetroStars1–1Los Angeles Galaxy
Faria   29' Caligiuri   63'
Los Angeles Galaxy1–4MetroStars
Victorine   4' Faria   72',   80'
Chung   75'
Valencia   83'
MetroStars2–3Los Angeles Galaxy
Villegas   49',   60' Victorine   21',   33'
Frye   56'
 0–1 series (SDET) 
Cienfuegos   8'

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 1-0 in series overtime (SDET) after 4-4 tie on points.

San Jose Earthquakes3–1Columbus Crew
Donovan   5'   45'+
Lagos   31'		 Warzycha   54' (pen.)
Columbus Crew0–3San Jose Earthquakes
Lagos   9'
Cerritos   68'
Donovan   76'

San Jose Earthquakes advance 6–0 on points.

Semifinals

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Los Angeles Galaxy1–1Chicago Fire
Hernández   44' Wynalda   32'
Chicago Fire0–1 (AET)Los Angeles Galaxy
Vagenas   94'
Los Angeles Galaxy2–1 (AET)Chicago Fire
Califf   44'
Cienfuegos   98'		 D. Beasley   30'

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 7–1 on points.

San Jose Earthquakes0–1Miami Fusion
Preki   53'
Miami Fusion0–4San Jose Earthquakes
Donovan   16'
Russell   57'
Lagos   69'
De Rosario   89'
San Jose Earthquakes1–0 (AET)Miami Fusion
Dayak   94'

San Jose Earthquakes advance 6–3 on points.

MLS Cup

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Main article: MLS Cup 2001
Los Angeles Galaxy1–2 (AET)San Jose Earthquakes
Hernández   21' Donovan   43'
De Rosario   96'

Player statistics

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Goals

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Alex Pineda Chacón Miami Fusion 19
2   Diego Serna Miami Fusion 15
3   John Spencer Colorado Rapids 14
  Abdul Thompson Conteh D.C. United
5   Ronald Cerritos San Jose Earthquakes 11
  Ariel Graziani Dallas Burn
7   Jeff Cunningham Columbus Crew 10
  Eric Wynalda New England Revolution,
Chicago Fire
9   Mamadou Diallo Tampa Bay Mutiny 9
  Jaime Moreno D.C. United

Assists

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Rank Player Club Assists
1   Diego Serna Miami Fusion 11
  John Wilmar Pérez Columbus Crew
3   Ross Paule Colorado Rapids 10
  Preki Miami Fusion
5   Jeff Cunningham Columbus Crew 8
  Cobi Jones Los Angeles Galaxy
  Manny Lagos San Jose Earthquakes
  Piotr Nowak Chicago Fire
9   Landon Donovan San Jose Earthquakes 7
  Marco Etcheverry D.C. United
  Ariel Graziani Dallas Burn
  Eric Quill Tampa Bay Mutiny

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1   Matt Jordan Dallas Burn 9
  Zach Thornton Chicago Fire
3   Joe Cannon San Jose Earthquakes 7
4   Matt Reis Los Angeles Galaxy 6
5   Tom Presthus Columbus Crew 5
  Nick Rimando Miami Fusion
7   Kevin Hartman Los Angeles Galaxy 4
  Tim Howard MetroStars
  Tony Meola Kansas City Wizards
10   Bo Oshoniyi Kansas City Wizards 3

Awards

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Individual awards

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Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player   Alex Pineda Chacón Miami Fusion
Defender of the Year   Jeff Agoos San Jose Earthquakes
Goalkeeper of the Year   Tim Howard MetroStars
Coach of the Year   Frank Yallop San Jose Earthquakes
Rookie of the Year   Rodrigo Faria MetroStars
Comeback Player of the Year   Troy Dayak San Jose Earthquakes
Scoring Champion   Alex Pineda Chacón Miami Fusion
Goal of the Year   Clint Mathis MetroStars
Fair Play Award   Alex Pineda Chacón Miami Fusion
Humanitarian of the Year   Tim Howard MetroStars

Best XI

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Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
  Tim Howard, MetroStars   Jeff Agoos, San Jose
  Carlos Llamosa, Miami
  Pablo Mastroeni, Miami
  Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy 		  Chris Armas, Chicago
  Piotr Nowak, Chicago
  Preki, Miami 		  Alex Pineda Chacón, Miami
  Diego Serna, Miami
  John Spencer, Colorado

Player of the Month

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Week Player Club
April   Alex Pineda Chacón Miami Fusion
May   Clint Mathis MetroStars
June   Diego Serna Miami Fusion
July   Hristo Stoitchkov Chicago Fire
August   Brian Maisonneuve Columbus Crew

Attendance

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Team Games Total Average
D.C. United 12 258,213 21,518
MetroStars 13 270,477 20,806
Columbus Crew 13 227,644 17,511
Los Angeles Galaxy 13 226,035 17,387
Colorado Rapids 13 214,249 16,481
Chicago Fire 14 229,438 16,388
New England Revolution 13 203,501 15,654
Dallas Burn 13 163,465 12,574
Miami Fusion 14 156,481 11,177
Kansas City Wizards 13 142,402 10,954
Tampa Bay Mutiny 14 146,704 10,479
San Jose Earthquakes 13 125,250 9,635
Totals 158 2,363,859 14,961

International Competition

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CONCACAF Champions' Cup

Copa Merconorte

CONCACAF Giants Cup

References

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  1. ^ "MLS Teleconference: September 13, 2001". MLSNET. Archived from the original on February 11, 2002. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
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